Post on 10-Mar-2020
FISHERIES UPDATE August 23-29, 2015 Report 14
1
FISHERIES UPDATE FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 23-29, 2015. Compiled by George Pappas - (907) 786-3822, George_Pappas@fws.gov
Office of Subsistence Management, USFWS.
The purpose of the weekly fisheries update is to provide the reader with an overall
summary of the status of subsistence related fisheries throughout the state of Alaska. The
target audience is the Federal Subsistence Board and its Staff Committee. The report was
compiled with the assistance of the Federal in-season managers and OSM staff that
provided weekly updated information by the close of business on Friday of the reporting
week. My goal is to have the report sent by the close of business the following Monday.
Web links have been included to provide additional information. You may obtain
additional information on a fishery of particular interest by contacting the in-season
manager, provided contacts, follow the provided web links, or contact me.
SOUTHEAST ALASKA
Sitka and Hoonah Area – Justin Koller, Forest Service, Tongass National Forest Justin Koller, (907)747-4297 jpkoller@fs.fed.us
Report expected next week. Author deployed in the field.
Wrangell/Petersburg Area – Bob Larson, Forest Service, Tongass National Forest
(907) 772-5930, robertlarson@fs.fed.us
Reporting concluded for 2015 season. Please contact author directly with questions.
The following link is the ADF&G weekly salmon commercial fishery update for Yakutat
and Southeast Alaska.
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=commercialbyareasoutheast.salmonfishery_updates
Yakutat, Juneau, and Admiralty areas of Northern Southeast Alaska - Ben Van
Alen, Forest Service, Tongass National Forest
(907)-789-6257 bvanalen@fs.fed.us or Jake Musslewhite (907) 789-6256
In the Yakutat area, ADF&G personnel operated the weir on the lower Situk River
through August 5 before pulling it for the season. There were 94,484 sockeye salmon
and 172 large Chinook salmon counted through the weir this season. The count of
sockeye salmon was above ADF&G’s 30,000 to 70,000 biological escapement goal
range. In contrast, the count of Chinook salmon through the Situk River weir is well
below ADF&G’s 450 to 1,050 goal range. ADF&G has not allowed retention of Chinook
salmon in their sport and commercial set gillnet fisheries and the Forest Service has not
issued permits for the subsistence take of Chinook salmon. ADF&G has also moderated
fishing times in the set net fishery and closed waters near the mouth of the Situk River in
an effort to protect Chinook salmon. This is the sixth season that we have taken
FISHERIES UPDATE August 23-29, 2015 Report 14
2
management actions to protect Chinook salmon returning to the Situk River. The broad
overlap in timing of these two species through the Situk/Ahrnklin set gillnet fishery
makes it difficult to harvest sockeye without catching Chinook salmon. The count of
Chinook salmon through the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans weir on the
Kluksu River weir was within goal ranges this year.
In the northern inside waters of Southeast Alaska, ADF&G projects that the escapement
of sockeye salmon into Chilkoot Lake will be well within their 38,000 to 86,000 goal
ranges. The Chilkat River fishwheel catches have been over twice the historical average
and scale pattern analysis finds that most of these fish are mainstem spawners. The
sockeye count though ADF&G’s weir on the Chilkat River weir is projected to be within
ADF&G’s 70,000 to 150,000 goal range. Catches of sockeye salmon in the joint
U.S./Canadian Taku River fishwheels are near the 10-year average and the escapement is
projected to be above the goal range. Douglas Island Pink and Chum hatchery staff
report that they have counted 3,856 sockeye salmon adults through their picket weir on
the outlet of Speel Lake which is close to the lower end of ADF&G’s 4,000 fish goal
range.
This week the commercial purse seine fishery fished a two-day opening on August 23-24
and a two day opening on August 27-28. Areas opened on August 23-24 included the
Whitestone/Augusta, Tenakee Inlet, and Admiralty Island shoreline both north of Parker
Point and south of Point Samuel. All but the Tenakee Inlet area was open for the August
27-28 opening. During the August 23-24 opening the harvest of pink salmon was about
14,500 fish/boat in the area. About 31 million pink salmon have been harvested this
season and ADF&G has advised seine fishers that openings on August 31-September 1
will be the last ones targeting pink salmon for the season.
As of August 26, project personnel from the Hoonah Indian Association have counted
and validated 1,217 sockeye salmon through the pair of video weirs at the outlet of Neva
Lake. This run is about 85% over based on 11-years of weir counts. Angoon
Community Association employees now have validated counts of 5,936 sockeye salmon
through the pair of video weirs on Kook Lake. It is difficult to use historical weir counts
to access the timing of this run since the migration of fish into the lake is directly affected
by the commercial purse seine fishing effort in Icy Strait and Chatham Strait. The
Angoon Community Association crew has also been counting sockeye salmon through
the pair of remotely monitored video weirs at the outlet of Sitkoh Lake and 6,275 sockeye
salmon have been counted as of August 17. At Kanalku Lake, ADF&G reported on
August 25 that they had video weir counts of 1,750 sockeye salmon to the base of the
falls and 1,160 (66%) into the lake.
Prince of Wales and Ketchikan District Area – Jeff Reeves, Forest Service, Tongass
National Forest. (907) 826-1649 jreeves@fs.fed.us
This will be the final summary submitted for the 2015 season.
FISHERIES UPDATE August 23-29, 2015 Report 14
3
There have been 247 permits issued for the 2015 Federal subsistence salmon fishery in
the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat areas. Most effort typically occurs on Prince of Wales
Island and is directed at Coho Salmon.
Sockeye Salmon weirs are currently active and fishing at Hatchery Creek and Hetta. To
date 4,865 Sockeye and 1,030 Coho Salmon have passed through at Hatchery Creek.
Total count at the Hetta weir is 3,678 Sockeye Salmon. Salmon are continuing to move
into Klawock Lake with counts at 5,687 Sockeye, 34,359 Pink, 24 Chum and 9 Chinook
Salmon.
Commercial fisheries within Districts 1-4 are in full swing. Total estimated harvests in
these districts to date are: 621,325 Sockeye, 151,885 Coho, 9,466,600 Pink and
1,895,800 Chum Salmon.
Southeast Alaska Web Links
Tongass National Forest News Room http://www.fs.usda.gov/news/tongass/news-events
Federal Subsistence Fisheries Regulations for Southeastern Alaska Area
http://www.doi.gov/subsistence/regulation/fish_shell/upload/Southeast.pdf
ADF&G Sport and Personal Use Fishing News Release and Emergency Order Link
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/EONR/index.cfm?ADFG=region.R1
ADF&G Commercial Fisheries News Release and Emergency Order Link
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=cfnews.main
Weekly ADF&G Sport Fishing Reports for Southeast Alaska
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishingReports/index.cfm?ADFG=R1.home
Statewide ADF&G Fish counts
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA
Prince William Sound – Copper River – Molly McCormick, Wrangell-St. Elias
National Park/Preserve. (907) 822-7280 Molly_McCormick@nps.gov
The ADF&G sonar at Miles Lake (located just downstream of the Million Dollar Bridge
in the lower Copper River) was pulled on July 27 with a final estimate of 1,341,545
salmon. This estimate is 192% of the projected escapement objective of 700,490 for this
date, or 641,055 more salmon. It is the highest escapement counted at the Miles Lake
sonar since it started in 1978. An estimate of 4,386 salmon migrated by the sonar counter
on the final day of counting.
FISHERIES UPDATE August 23-29, 2015 Report 14
4
MILES LAKE SONAR ESTIMATES (TOTAL SALMON)
Year Estimate Year Estimate Year Estimate Year Estimate
1978 107,011 1988 488,398 1998 866,957 2008 614,999
1979 237,173 1989 607,797 1999 848,921 2009 709,330
1980 276,538 1990 581,895 2000 587,592 2010 924,010
1981 535,263 1991 579,435 2001 833,569 2011 914,285
1982 467,306 1992 601,952 2002 819,000 2012 1,271,354
1983 545,724 1993 797,902 2003 695,233 2013 1,267,060
1984 536,806 1994 715,181 2004 669,646 2014 1,218,418
1985 436,313 1995 599,265 2005 854,268 2015 1,341,545
1986 509,275 1996 906,867 2006 959,731
1987 483,478 1997 1,148,079 2007 926,438
Commercial harvests in the Copper River District of Prince William Sound so far are:
22,767 Chinook
1,558,495 sockeye
29,450 coho
80,397 pink
15,048 chum
The Chitina Subdistrict is open and scheduled to remain open throughout the rest of the
season – through September 30, 2015. The state and federal fisheries in the Chitina
Subdistrict usually follow identical fishing schedules which are set by the state. Eighty-
three Federal Chitina Subdistrict permits have been issued on FWS’s online data base
plus additional permits that have been issued in NPS ranger stations that do not have
internet connectivity.
The Glennallen Subdistrict opened for Federal subsistence users on May 15th and is
expected to remain open until September 30th. 297 Federal Glennallen Subdistrict
permits have been issued on FWS’s online data base. Additional permits for this
subdistrict have been issued in Chitina and Kennecott, NPS ranger stations that do not
have internet connectivity. The state subsistence fishery in the Glennallen Subdistrict
opened on June 1st.
The Batzulnetas Area fishery opened on May 15 and is expected to remain open until
September 30, 2015. Four permits have been issued.
The Tanada Creek weir was operational on May 27. The crew has counted 8,329
sockeye salmon and no Chinook migrating through the weir as of August 30.
The Long Lake weir started operating on July 28. Nine hundred fifteen sockeye and no
coho have migrated through the weir as of August 28.
The two project fishwheels in Baird Canyon operated by the Native Village of Eyak
tagged 2,626 Chinook; 128 were recaptured at the Canyon Creek wheels. The Baird
FISHERIES UPDATE August 23-29, 2015 Report 14
5
Canyon wheels stopped operating for the season on July 10. The Canyon Creek wheels
stopped operating for the season on July 26.
ADF&G’s counting tower in the Gulkana River was installed on June 2. The tower
stopped operations for the season on August 6, with a final count of 3,648 Chinook and
23,292 sockeye. The below photos are courtesy of ADF&G.
Photo of elevated counting tower and submerged white panel which assists counting.
FISHERIES UPDATE August 23-29, 2015 Report 14
6
View of submerged white panel from counting tower
Effective June 20, 2015, by emergency order of ADF&G, the bag and possession limit
for sport-caught sockeye salmon 16 inches or longer in the Copper River drainage
increased from 3 to 6.
Five Special Actions have been issued by the park this season:
delaying the starting date of the Chitina River federal salmon fishery and setting
the pre-season schedule for the fishery
amending the preseason schedule for the Chitina Subdistrict for the week of July
6 – July 12, allowing a full week (168 hours) of fishing, and providing the
tentative schedule for future fishing periods
amending the preseason schedule for the Chitina Subdistrict for the week of July
13-19, allowing a full week (168 hours) of fishing
amending the preseason schedule for the Chitina Subdistrict for the week of July
20-26, allowing a full week (168 hours) of fishing
amending the preseason schedule for the Chitina Subdistrict for the week of July
27- August 2, allowing a full week (168 hours) of fishing
FISHERIES UPDATE August 23-29, 2015 Report 14
7
Links
ADF&G Miles Lake daily sonar estimates http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=commercialbyareacopperriver.salmon_escapement
NVE’s Chinook Escapement Monitoring project in the Copper River
http://eyak.fishscan.com/Summary/DailySummary.aspx
ADF&G Copper River Inseason Commercial Harvest Estimates http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=commercialbyareacopperriver.harvestsummary
Gulkana River counting tower – ADF&G
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/index.cfm?ADFG=main.LocSelectYearSpecies
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve Subsistence User’s Guide
http://www.nps.gov/wrst/historyculture/upload/Subsistence%20brochure.pdf
Prince William Sound Federal Subsistence Regulations including Copper River.
http://www.doi.gov/subsistence/regulation/fish_shell/upload/Prince.pdf
Gulkana River counting tower – ADF&G http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/index.cfm?ADFG=main.LocSelectYearSpecies
Link to article in the Peninsula Clarion about the smaller-than-average trend for sockeye
salmon this season
http://peninsulaclarion.com/news/2015-06-25/across-state-early-salmon-catches-underweight
PWS and Copper River Flats – Milo Burcham, Forest Service, Cordova.
(907) 424-4759 mburcham@fs.fed.us
31 August 2015
This will be the final weekly summary submitted for 2015 season.
Copper River District opened for a 24-hour fishing period starting at 7:00 am, Monday,
August 31. The standard management strategy for coho salmon is one or two 24-hour
periods per week depending on escapement and harvest levels. For the week ending
August 29, the actual Copper River delta survey count was 17,000 coho salmon versus an
anticipated range of 9,298 – 19,468.
A total of 68 Federal Subsistence fishing permits have been issued for freshwaters within
the Prince William Sound of Chugach National Forest to date. The most popular
subsistence fisheries for Cordova residents are in full swing now. Ninety-one permits
were issued last season. Harvest by this year’s permit holders will not be known until
reports are returned this winter. In 2014, 630 coho and 76 sockeye were harvested on
Copper River Delta fresh waters in this fishery.
FISHERIES UPDATE August 23-29, 2015 Report 14
8
Cook Inlet Area – Jeff Anderson, Field Supervisor, Kenai Fish and Wildlife Field
Office (907) 260-0132 Jeffry_Anderson@fws.gov
Reporting completed for 2015 season. Contact author with questions or requests.
Kodiak Island Area – Anne Marie LaRosa, Refuge Manager, - Kodiak NWR
(907) 487-2600/0230 AnneMarie_LaRosa@fws.gov or
Kevin Van Hatten (907) 487-0230 Kevin_VanHatten@fws.gov
Reporting concluded for 2015 season. Please contact author with questions or to request
additional information.
Federal Subsistence Fisheries Regulations for Kodiak Area
http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/pdf/fishregs13/kodiak.pdf
Bristol Bay and Chignik – Jon Gerken – Acting Inseason Manager Fisheries Branch
Anchorage Fish and Wildlife Field Office
Jon_Gerken@fws.gov 907-271-2776
Reporting concluded for 2015 season. Please contact author with questions or to request
additional information.
Federal Subsistence Fisheries Regulations for Bristol Bay Area
http://www.doi.gov/subsistence/regulation/fish_shell/upload/Bristol.pdf
Federal Subsistence Fisheries Regulations for Chignik Area
http://www.doi.gov/subsistence/regulation/fish_shell/upload/chignik.pdf
Southcentral Alaska Web Links
Federal Subsistence Management Fisheries News Releases
http://www.doi.gov/subsistence/news/fishing/index.cfm
ADF&G Sport and Personal Use Fishing News Release and Emergency Order link
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishingSportFishingInfo.R2
ADF&G Commercial Fisheries News Release and Emergency Order Link
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=cfnews.main
Weekly ADF&G Sport Fishing Reports for Southcentral Alaska
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishingReports/index.cfm?ADFG=R2.Home
FISHERIES UPDATE August 23-29, 2015 Report 14
9
Statewide ADF&G Fish counts:
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/
Yukon River – Gerald Maschmann, Fish Biologist USFWS Fairbanks Office.
Gerald_Maschmann@fws.gov or
Fred Bue Fredrick_Bue@fws.gov
Emmonak Summer Office (907) 949-1798
The Emmonak Field Office closed for the season. Please call the Fairbanks office at
(907) 455-1849.
Fall Season Outlook and Management Actions
The fall chum salmon run in the lower Yukon has passed the ¾ point of the run. Based
on the in-season run assessment at the Pilot Station sonar the projected fall chum salmon
run size is falling between 700,000 to 800,000 fish. This level of abundance should be
adequate to meet escapement and subsistence priorities and provide for commercial
harvest.
Subsistence fishermen had been heavily restricted during the summer season and are
looking for fall chum to supplement their unfulfilled subsistence salmon needs.
Subsistence salmon fishing has been relaxed in Districts 1, 2, and 3 to 24 hours per day, 7
days per week, restricted to 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnet gear, except that fishing is
closed 12-hours before, during, and 12-hours after each commercial fishing period in
Districts 1 and 2. Subsistence salmon fishing in Districts 4 and 5 has been liberalized to
24 hours per day, 7 days per week, with fish wheels and gillnet gear mesh size 7.5-inch or
smaller mesh and. District 6 remains on their normal regulatory subsistence fishing
schedule.
Unfortunately, Porcupine River fall chum salmon stock abundance has been low in recent
years when compared to other stocks in the Yukon River drainage. Fall chum salmon
escapements into the Canadian Fishing Branch River, a tributary of the Porcupine River,
have fallen short of meeting the escapement objective agreed upon by U.S. and Canadian
representatives in 3 of the last 5 years despite other Yukon River stocks meeting or
exceeding their escapement goals or objectives. In an attempt to improve fall chum
escapement into the Canadian portion of the drainage, the department is closing
subsistence salmon fishing in the Alaska portion of the mainstem Porcupine River for the
2015 fall season. At this time, Pilot Station sonar and genetic stock identification are not
indicating an abundance of Porcupine River stocks that would warrant maintaining an
open subsistence fishery on the Porcupine River.
Eleven commercial fishing periods have been opened in each of Districts 1 and 2. The
preliminary fall chum salmon commercial harvest in Districts 1 and 2 is 168,208 fish.
FISHERIES UPDATE August 23-29, 2015 Report 14
10
This harvest amount is within the manager’s expectations for the projected amount of
available surplus. The preliminary coho salmon commercial harvest in Districts 1 and 2
is 106,130 fish. This is a much higher coho harvest than average for this time of the
season and higher than expected based upon in-season assessment information. This
year’s coho harvest surpasses last year’s record harvest of 103,352 fish and is well above
the historical average coho commercial harvest. Two commercial fishing periods were
opened in Subdistricts 5-B and 5-C with 1,048 fall chum salmon harvested. Two
commercial fishing periods were opened in Subdistricts 6-A, 6-B, and 6-C with 494 fall
chum and 16 coho salmon harvested.
Fall Season Assessment Information
Assessment through August 29th shows the cumulative CPUE at the Lower Yukon Test
Fishery (LYTF) is 1,212.35, slightly below the median of 1230.42. The Mt. Village Test
Fishery (MVTF) has a cumulative CPUE of 1,703.51, below the median at this date of
1,734.76. The Pilot Station sonar has a cumulative estimated passage of 522,129 fall
chum, below the median estimated passage of 575,456. Taking into account the harvests
below the sonar, the Pilot Station sonar reconstructed passage is 703,940 fall chum,
slightly above the median of 693,957. Five pulses of fall chum salmon have passed
through the lower Yukon with a sixth currently passing the Pilot Station sonar. The first
pulse has crossed the U.S./Canada Border. The second and third pulses are passing
through upper Subdistrict 5D as detected by the Rapids video test fish wheel. The fourth
and largest is near Tanana, and the fifth pulse is passing through Subdistrict 4-A at this
time. The Pilot Station genetic stock identification project is showing fairly typical stock
proportions across the entire run with the Canadian stock contribution somewhat higher
than usual in the late portion of the season.
Coho typically enter the Yukon River during the second half of the fall chum run.
Through August 29th, the cumulative CPUE at the LYTF is 449.85, above the median of
341.93. The MVTF has a cumulative CPUE of 1,368.36 is above the median of 783.49.
The Pilot Station sonar has a cumulative estimated passage of 81,556 coho salmon, below
the median estimated passage of 108,233. Taking into account the harvests below the
sonar, the Pilot Station sonar reconstructed passage is 148,512 coho salmon, above the
median of 129,705. The in-season run outlook is for an above average coho salmon run.
Managers have been somewhat confounded by the proportion of coho salmon caught in
some commercial openings that has been significantly greater than the estimated passage
proportions by the Pilot Station sonar project.
Consultation
Weekly YRDFA teleconferences began on June 2 and ended August 25. The final
YRDFA teleconference of the season occurred on August 25. A review of the fall season
management was provided during a Yukon Advisory Group (YAG) meeting Monday,
July 13. The ADF&G fall season manager attended a fishery meeting in person, in Fort
Yukon, on August 12, to closing subsistence salmon fishing on the Porcupine River.
Furthermore, the ADF&G manager arranged and participated via teleconference in a
discussion as an agenda item during a Tribal meeting in Fort Yukon on August 17 which
gained local support for this action.
FISHERIES UPDATE August 23-29, 2015 Report 14
11
Kuskokwim River – Neil Lalonde, Refuge Manager, Yukon Delta National Wildlife
Refuge Neil_Lalonde@fws.gov or
Robert Sundown (907) 543-1007 Robert_Sundown@fws.gov
Kuskokwim River
This will be the final weekly summary submitted for the 2015 season.
Summary: Taken from ADF&G Update #11
Coho salmon runs were managed conservatively throughout the Kuskokwim
Management Area. A conservative approach was warranted due to inseason assessment
information that indicated late run timing, below average run strength, and uncertainty in
achieving tributary escapement goals. Commercial harvest within the Kuskokwim River
was delayed and the number of openers was reduced compared to prior years in order to
provide additional opportunity for subsistence harvest of coho salmon.
Active management of the Kuskokwim River coho salmon runs has ended. There are no
additional commercial harvest opportunities planned for the Kuskokwim Management
Area. The Bethel Test Fishery ended operations on August 24. Throughout the season,
the Bethel Test Fishery indicated that the coho salmon run size would be adequate to
meet escapement goals, allow for an increased subsistence harvest, and modest
commercial harvest.
Coho salmon escapement monitoring will continue throughout the month of September at
five Kuskokwim River locations and the Goodnews River in Kuskokwim Bay. Currently,
escapement of coho salmon is below average at all locations, except Tatlawiksuk River
where escapement is above average. Inseason projections of end of season escapement
based on late run timing indicate that the escapement goal will likely be achieved at the
Kogrukluk River and may not be achieved at the Kwethluk River.
Bethel Test Fish: (last data was 8/23)
Through the evening tide on August 23nd the cumulative coho index was 2,688, at
this time last year the cumulative index was 4,569.
Kwethluk River Weir: Through August 29th
Cumulative coho salmon counts total 7,806, at this time last year the cumulative
index was 29,102.
Tuluksak River Weir: Through August 29th (2nd highest since 2009)
Cumulative coho salmon counts total 4,855, at this time last year the cumulative
index was 10,583.
FISHERIES UPDATE August 23-29, 2015 Report 14
12
George River Weir: Through August 29th
Cumulative coho salmon counts total 14,275, at this time last year the cumulative
index was 24,603.
Tatlawiksuk River Weir: Through August 29th (2nd highest since 2009)
Cumulative coho salmon counts total 13,172, at this time last year the cumulative
index was 17,908.
Kogrugluk River Weir: Through August 29th
Cumulative coho salmon counts total 3,036, at this time last year the cumulative
index was 21,672.
Management Actions: Taken from ADF&G Update #11
There are no additional commercial harvest opportunities planned for the Kuskokwim
Management Area.
There have been a total of three commercial openers in District W1, downriver from
Bethel. The first commercial opener was August 10. Total harvest form those three
periods was 5 Chinook, 129 sockeye, 514 chum, and 64,994 coho salmon. Total harvest
of all species is below average.
There have been a total of 17 commercial openers in District W4. The first commercial
opener was July 3. Total harvest is 7,533 Chinook, 16,139 chum, 30,272 sockeye, and
75,264 coho salmon. Harvest is below average for Chinook salmon, chum salmon, and
sockeye salmon. Coho salmon harvest is above average.
There have been a total of 13 commercial openers in District W5. The first commercial
opener was July 3. Total harvest is 705 Chinook, 4,510 chum, 25,861 sockeye, and 7,030
coho salmon. Harvest is below average for all species.
Yukon-Kuskokwim-Interior Alaska Web Links
Federal Subsistence Management Fisheries News Releases:
http://www.doi.gov/subsistence/news/fishing/index.cfm
Federal Subsistence Fisheries Regulations for Yukon–Northern Area
http://www.doi.gov/subsistence/regulation/fish_shell/upload/Yukon.pdf
NEW = Kuskokwim River Updates Hosted on OSM Website
http://www.doi.gov/subsistence/kuskokwim.cfm
Federal Subsistence Fisheries Regulations for Kuskokwim Area
FISHERIES UPDATE August 23-29, 2015 Report 14
13
http://www.doi.gov/subsistence/regulation/fish_shell/upload/Kusko.pdf
ADF&G Sport and Personal Use Fishing News Release and Emergency Order link:
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/EONR/index.cfm?ADFG=region.R3
ADF&G Commercial Fisheries News Release and Emergency Order Link:
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=cfnews.main
Weekly ADF&G Sport Fishing Reports for Interior Alaska:
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishingReports/index.cfm?ADFG=R3.home
Statewide ADF&G Fish counts:
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/
Northwest Alaska – Ken Adkisson, National Park Service, Nome.
(907) 443-2522 Ken_Adkisson@nps.gov
Norton Sound District
The silver run has picked up this week and the commercial harvest has surpassed 100,000
silvers for the second year in a row and the seventh time in history. The department
forecast of 60,000 to 90,000 silvers in the commercial fishery has been shattered and this
year’s harvest looks to be on track to break into the top 3 greatest harvests that occurred
from 2006-2008. The preliminary Norton Sound salmon catches this season are 1,100
kings, 150,000 chums, 4,000 sockeyes, 65,000 pinks and 104,000 silvers by 125 permit
holders. The chum catch finished 11th best in the 55-year history of the commercial
fishery and was the best harvest since 1983.
Unalakleet (Subdistrict 6) and Shaktoolik (Subdistrict 5)
Commercial Fishing: Two 48-hour fishing periods a week unless changed at the request
of the buyer. The schedule is from Sunday at 6 p.m. until Tuesday at 6 p.m. and
Wednesday at 6 p.m. until Friday 6 at p.m.
The commercial catch this season for the Unalakleet Subdistrict is 300 kings, 500
sockeyes, 33,000 pinks, 38,000 chums and 70,000 silvers. The silver catch is sixth
highest in history. The 72-hour period that ended Saturday night on August 15 had one of
the greatest single fishing period harvests with a catch of 18,000 silvers.
North River Tower – Camp J.B. - A cooperative project of NSEDC with assistance
from Fish & Game has escapement goals of 1,200-2,600 kings; 25,000 pinks; 550-1,100
silvers (aerial survey); and no goal yet established for chums. Cumulative counts through
August 14 were 1,900 kings, 22,000 chums, 455,000 pinks and 3,600 silvers. The silver
count through mid-August is the second highest in 5 years. The average historical third
quarter point for silver passage at the tower is August 23.
FISHERIES UPDATE August 23-29, 2015 Report 14
14
Unalakleet River Floating Weir – A cooperative project of Fish & Game, Native
Village of Unalakleet, United States BLM and NSEDC with major funding provided by
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Subsistence Management. The project is
completed for the season. Cumulative counts through August 15 were 2,775 kings,
97,000 chums, 1.6 million pinks, 900 sockeyes and 41,000 silvers. The project started in
2010 and the silver count was the best in history.
The commercial catch this season in the Shaktoolik Subdistrict is 34 kings, 55
sockeyes, 14,000 pinks, 26,000 chums and 18,000 silvers. The silver catch through mid-
August is the best since 2008 and is eighth highest in history.
Shaktoolik Tower – A cooperative project of NSEDC with assistance from Fish &
Game has no escapement goals yet established. Cumulative counts through August 13
were 600 kings, 27,000 chums, 400,000 pinks and 11,500 silvers.
Norton Bay (Subdistrict 4), Elim (Subdistrict 3), and Golovin (Subdistrict 2)\
The Golovin, Elim, and Norton Bay subdistricts reopened for two 48-hour commercial
salmon fishing periods from 6:00 p.m. Saturday, August, 15 to 6:00 p.m. Monday,
August 17 and from 6:00 Wednesday, August 19 to 6:00 p.m. Friday, August 21.
The commercial catch this season in the Norton Bay Subdistrict is 225 kings, 250
sockeyes, 12,000 pinks, 24,000 chums and 6,600 silvers. The silver catch through mid-
August is a record.
Inglutalik River Tower – A cooperative project of NSEDC and ADF&G. No
escapement goals have been established. Cumulative counts through August 10 were
1,400 kings, 68,000 chums, 825,000 pinks and 8,000 silvers. Silvers counts are above
average.
The commercial catch this season in the Elim Subdistrict is 500 kings, 2,200 sockeyes,
4,500 pinks, 39,000 chums and 6,600 silvers. The silver catch is the sixth highest in
history.
Kwiniuk River Tower – A Fish & Game project with assistance from NSEDC has
escapement goals of 300-550 kings; 11,500 – 23,000 chums; 8,400 pinks; and 650-1,300
silvers (aerial survey goal). Cumulative counts through August 15 were 320 kings,
38,000 chums, 102,000 pinks, 27 sockeyes and 2,200 silvers. The silver count is second
highest in the last 5 years. The average historical midpoint for silver passage at the tower
is August 15.
The commercial catch this season in the Golovin subdistrict is 60 kings, 1,000 sockeyes,
1,300 pinks, 17,000 chums and 2,500 silvers. The silver catch is sixth highest in history.
FISHERIES UPDATE August 23-29, 2015 Report 14
15
Fish River Tower - A cooperative project of NSEDC with assistance from Fish & Game.
No escapement goals have been established. Cumulative counts through August 15 were
2,300 kings, 145,000 chums, 215,000 pinks and 8,000 silvers. This is the second year of
the Fish River project. The previous tower project at Niukluk River had an average
historical midpoint of August 21 for silver passage at the tower and escapement goal
range was 2,400 to 7,200 fish. Tagging studies have shown that one-third of the silvers go
up Niukluk River and the Niukluk River escapement goal range would have been met this
year.
Nome (Subdistrict 1)
Commercial Fishing: The commercial catch this season is 3 kings, 90 sockeyes, 550
pinks, 5,000 chums and 15 silvers. No more commercial fishing periods are expected.
The chum catch was the best since 1987.
Subsistence Fishing: Beach seining is no longer allowed. Subsistence set gillnet fishing
in the marine waters of the subdistrict is open seven days a week. There are no catch
limits when fishing in marine waters. The fresh water subsistence area set gillnet
schedule is from 6:00 p.m. Monday until 6:00 p.m. Wednesday and from 6:00 p.m.
Thursday until 6:00 p.m. Saturday. Catch limits vary by river, and fishermen should
check the backs of their permits. The chum salmon limit has been waived in the Nome
and Snake rivers. A record of 515 Nome subdistrict subsistence permits have been issued
so far season. The previous record was 494 permits issued in 2010.
Solomon River Weir – A Fish & Game project, has no escapement goals yet established.
Cumulative counts through August 15 were 3 kings, 1,030 chums, 18,000 pinks and 30
silvers.
Nome River Weir – A Fish & Game project with assistance from NSEDC has an
escapement goal of 2,900 – 4,300 chum salmon and 3,200 pink salmon. Cumulative
counts through August 15 were 20 kings, 5,800 chums, 75,000 pinks, 60 sockeyes and 70
silvers. The silver count has been lagging and is the lowest since 2009. The average
historical midpoint for silver passage at the weir is August 29.
Snake River Weir – A cooperative project between Fish & Game and NSEDC has an
escapement goal of 1,600 – 2,500 chum salmon. Cumulative counts through August 15
were 3 kings, 4,200 chums, 16,000 pinks and 75 silvers. The silver count ranks third
highest since 2009. The average historical midpoint for silver passage at the weir
is August 28.
Port Clarence District
Gillnetting and beach seining are allowed 7 days per week. All subsistence sockeye
salmon catch limits have been waived on the Pilgrim River. Fishermen need to check the
back of their permit for limits on other salmon. Pilgrim River has required subsistence
permits since 1964 and a record 368 permits have been issued so far this season. The
FISHERIES UPDATE August 23-29, 2015 Report 14
16
previous record was 265 permits issued in 2013. Salmon lake is within the Port Clarence
District and the ADF&G opened to subsistence fishing that half of Salmon Lake that
drains into the Pilgrim River.
Pilgrim River Weir –A cooperative project of NSEDC with assistance from Fish &
Game has an escapement goal of 4,000 – 8,000 sockeyes based on aerial survey at
Salmon Lake & Grand Central tributary to Salmon Lake. Cumulative counts through
August 15 were 97 kings, 37,000 chums, 2,700 pinks, 35,000 sockeyes and 125 silvers.
The sockeye escapement was the best since 2007.
Kotzebue District
Daily commercial salmon fishing openings between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00
p.m. were announced beginning Sunday, August 16 through Friday, August 21.
Fishermen were limited by the buyer to a daily catch limit of 1,500 pounds.
The 2015 commercial harvest through mid-August is 255,000 chum salmon, and is half
of last year’s record harvest, but will likely finish third highest in the last 20 years. On
Tuesday, August 11, 72 permit holders fished which was the most permit holders to fish
in one fishing period since 1994.
Kobuk River Test Fish - Fish & Game project. The chum catch through mid-August is
only half of last year’s catch but ranks sixth highest in the 23-year history of the project.
Federal Subsistence Fisheries Regulations for the Kotzebue Area
http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/pdf/fishregs11/norton.pdf